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Ash and Honor: The Untold 368 Minutes of 9/11
Publishing for the 25th anniversary of 9/11: A never-before-told account of the military, national security, and aviation response to the devastating attacks against the United States
Ash and Honor is a masterclass of narrative journalism, putting into a shocking new context what really happened on September 11, 2001. Investigative journalist Jeffrey Robinson weaves together the stories of more than 60 eye-witnesses to history, many of whom have never spoken publicly.
The pilot in the cockpit of what was possibly “the fifth plane”; the pilots of the fighter jets on a suicide mission to stop the attack; the pilot of Air Force One, facing a direct threat to the plane, who told himself, “Time to be Tom Cruise.”
Officials in a bunker five stories below the White House, where an illegal order was made to shoot down a civilian passenger jet; in a tense meeting in the National Military Command Center’s top-secret Air Threat Conference; and in NORAD’s underground Cheyenne Mountain, where the commanding General declared “Battle stations” deep inside and ordered the 30-ton hardened steel blast doors shut.
And the FAA’s national operations manager, who ordered all planes in the air to land; the Canadian Minister of Transport, who dealt with 238 planes and 33,000 passengers diverted to Canada; and a three-star general in Alaska, who stared down Vladimir Putin, while Russian bombers flew right up to the edge of US airspace as America’s nuclear response was put on worldwide alert.
Ash and Honor is a thrilling, first-hand account of the ash and honor of America’s darkest day.
Ash and Honor is a masterclass of narrative journalism, putting into a shocking new context what really happened on September 11, 2001. Investigative journalist Jeffrey Robinson weaves together the stories of more than 60 eye-witnesses to history, many of whom have never spoken publicly.
The pilot in the cockpit of what was possibly “the fifth plane”; the pilots of the fighter jets on a suicide mission to stop the attack; the pilot of Air Force One, facing a direct threat to the plane, who told himself, “Time to be Tom Cruise.”
Officials in a bunker five stories below the White House, where an illegal order was made to shoot down a civilian passenger jet; in a tense meeting in the National Military Command Center’s top-secret Air Threat Conference; and in NORAD’s underground Cheyenne Mountain, where the commanding General declared “Battle stations” deep inside and ordered the 30-ton hardened steel blast doors shut.
And the FAA’s national operations manager, who ordered all planes in the air to land; the Canadian Minister of Transport, who dealt with 238 planes and 33,000 passengers diverted to Canada; and a three-star general in Alaska, who stared down Vladimir Putin, while Russian bombers flew right up to the edge of US airspace as America’s nuclear response was put on worldwide alert.
Ash and Honor is a thrilling, first-hand account of the ash and honor of America’s darkest day.
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First published September 1, 2026
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September 5, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Day We Knew and the Details We Didn’t
Ash and Honor: The Untold 368 Minutes of 9/11 by Jeffrey Robinson is one of the strongest books I have read about September 11 because it manages to make an event I remember vividly feel immediate again. I lived through that day, have watched documentaries about it, and recently read another book focused on the first responders at the World Trade Center. Even with that background, Robinson’s minute-by-minute structure completely pulled me in. I kept wanting to read more, and the way he moved between political, military, aviation, civilian, and international perspectives made the book feel urgent without ever becoming confusing.
What impressed me most was how naturally the many different people and locations fit together. I usually do not love books that constantly jump between perspectives, but here it worked exceptionally well because each person was introduced clearly enough that I could follow the transitions. Robinson also added details I did not know, including the situations surrounding Korean Air Flight 085 and United Flight 23, while deepening stories I was already familiar with. The result is a much fuller picture of the confusion and fragmentation of that day, almost a study in the fog of war as people tried to make decisions with incomplete and rapidly changing information.
The international dimension was another major strength. I especially appreciated the attention given to Canada and the way Canadian communities responded during the crisis. That broader perspective reminded me that September 11 was not only an American event, but one with immediate consequences across borders. The audiobook made the experience even more powerful. I listened while reading along, and the inclusion of actual aviation communications was still chilling twenty-five years later. Robinson handles the material with remarkable restraint and respect, which makes the emotional moments more powerful rather than sensationalized.
A quarter of a century after September 11, Ash and Honor shows how much can still be learned about a day that many of us think we already understand. It captures vulnerability, confusion, courage, public service, and the sheer scale of people trying to respond to something almost impossible to comprehend in real time. I would recommend this to anyone, not just readers interested in 9/11, aviation, military history, or national security. This is simply outstanding narrative nonfiction, and for me it was an easy five-star read.
Ash and Honor: The Untold 368 Minutes of 9/11 by Jeffrey Robinson is one of the strongest books I have read about September 11 because it manages to make an event I remember vividly feel immediate again. I lived through that day, have watched documentaries about it, and recently read another book focused on the first responders at the World Trade Center. Even with that background, Robinson’s minute-by-minute structure completely pulled me in. I kept wanting to read more, and the way he moved between political, military, aviation, civilian, and international perspectives made the book feel urgent without ever becoming confusing.
What impressed me most was how naturally the many different people and locations fit together. I usually do not love books that constantly jump between perspectives, but here it worked exceptionally well because each person was introduced clearly enough that I could follow the transitions. Robinson also added details I did not know, including the situations surrounding Korean Air Flight 085 and United Flight 23, while deepening stories I was already familiar with. The result is a much fuller picture of the confusion and fragmentation of that day, almost a study in the fog of war as people tried to make decisions with incomplete and rapidly changing information.
The international dimension was another major strength. I especially appreciated the attention given to Canada and the way Canadian communities responded during the crisis. That broader perspective reminded me that September 11 was not only an American event, but one with immediate consequences across borders. The audiobook made the experience even more powerful. I listened while reading along, and the inclusion of actual aviation communications was still chilling twenty-five years later. Robinson handles the material with remarkable restraint and respect, which makes the emotional moments more powerful rather than sensationalized.
A quarter of a century after September 11, Ash and Honor shows how much can still be learned about a day that many of us think we already understand. It captures vulnerability, confusion, courage, public service, and the sheer scale of people trying to respond to something almost impossible to comprehend in real time. I would recommend this to anyone, not just readers interested in 9/11, aviation, military history, or national security. This is simply outstanding narrative nonfiction, and for me it was an easy five-star read.
September 17, 2026
Published for the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
Investigative journalist Jeffrey Robinson gives us a powerful minute by minute account of the military, national security and aviation response to the horrifying attacks against the U.S. on Sept 11, 2001.
He weaves together the stories of more than 60 American and Canadian eye-witnesses in the air, on or below the ground, all revealing the chaos, confusion and turmoil during the most crucial and devastating 368 minutes on America's darkest day.
A well-researched and fascinating read!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Investigative journalist Jeffrey Robinson gives us a powerful minute by minute account of the military, national security and aviation response to the horrifying attacks against the U.S. on Sept 11, 2001.
He weaves together the stories of more than 60 American and Canadian eye-witnesses in the air, on or below the ground, all revealing the chaos, confusion and turmoil during the most crucial and devastating 368 minutes on America's darkest day.
A well-researched and fascinating read!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
September 8, 2026
i think insight might exist, but have no idea where to find it.
Jim Dwyer wrote the flawless 102 Minutes, chronicling the stories of hundreds as well as the building itself. He somehow manages to keep every thread so distinct that the reader can easily follow the story through the buildings’ thousands of stairs. Dwyer further clarifies the tale with location and time subheadings.
Mr Robinson’s Ash and Honor is not that. I looked forward to reading this book and discovering the new insights the author promised. Unfortunately, said author buried them amidst a sea of acronyms, confusing sentences, and lazy writing.
Only someone fully invested in military security could easily follow a narrative commencing thus: “It was also home to the Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS)—then one of the three NORAD components—which in those days was charged with protecting the air over the eastern part of the United States. The other two were the Southeast Air Defense Sector (SEADS), headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base in the Florida panhandle town of Panama City, and the Western Air Defense Sector (WADS) at McChord Air Force Base, near Tacoma, Washington. All of this has since been changed and restructured, but in September 2001 the three NORAD components were under the direct command and control of First Air Force, which was also at Tyndall. That meant NEADS, SEADS, and WADS did not speak directly to NORAD. They spoke to First Air Force, and it was First Air Force that spoke to the Cheyenne Mountain.” Acronyms continue throughout the tale.
Mr Robinson has confusing sentences, such as, “The death toll was seventy civilians, fifty-five military personnel, and everyone on the plane. Because their offices were right there, the Army took the biggest losses, at eighty-five.”
Furthermore, he gives conflicting accounts of the military’s role in hijackings of the military during hijackings. In his first mention, he notes, “Besides the fact that a hijacking is a rare event, again, first and foremost, it is a criminal event. It’s a law enforcement matter. But it is also considered a military or air defense matter because it’s a violation of air sovereignty.” A chapter or two later, Robinson states, “A military response to an aircraft hijacking is out of the ordinary because hijackings are a criminal act and the military is not in the business of law enforcement.”
To add to the problems, Mr Robinson writes lazily. “She got commissioned out of McGee Tyson AFB in Tennessee”
OR, “In the seat next to him sat thirty-nine-year-old First Officer David Charlebois, who had been born French in Morocco and lived in Washington, DC, but was not known to be married or to have children,” OR, “He didn’t know it then, but the final total would be 239 flights diverted to seventeen Canadian airports with an estimated thirty-three thousand displaced and sometimes very unhappy passengers.”
The mind reels.
I must also point out other hangnails. He says of the AF1 pilot, “But most of [the telecom devices don’t] work as it was designed to below three hundred to four hundred feet. Which is where the superior piloting of the man in the left seat came into play.” I would hope that pilots MUST get well beyond 400 feet to show their true prowess.
Two further sticklers involve women. He notes that the wife of one captain died 16 years after him; a quick Google search shows she died in 2012. Then there’s the story of the unusual passengers on UA23. The flight attendant “informed [the pilot] that there were four weird young Arab guys sitting in first class.” This is not a direct quote, but at best a paraphrase. Are the sentiments hers or the author’s? I think the author could have chosen a less demeaning term, as four young men of Arab descent acting oddly.
I encourage you to skip this book. For the best read, the clearest read, of 9/11, get yourself a copy of Dwyer’s 102 Minutes. It is not a comprehensive look at the day, but no one has ever written a better story about 9/11.
Jim Dwyer wrote the flawless 102 Minutes, chronicling the stories of hundreds as well as the building itself. He somehow manages to keep every thread so distinct that the reader can easily follow the story through the buildings’ thousands of stairs. Dwyer further clarifies the tale with location and time subheadings.
Mr Robinson’s Ash and Honor is not that. I looked forward to reading this book and discovering the new insights the author promised. Unfortunately, said author buried them amidst a sea of acronyms, confusing sentences, and lazy writing.
Only someone fully invested in military security could easily follow a narrative commencing thus: “It was also home to the Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS)—then one of the three NORAD components—which in those days was charged with protecting the air over the eastern part of the United States. The other two were the Southeast Air Defense Sector (SEADS), headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base in the Florida panhandle town of Panama City, and the Western Air Defense Sector (WADS) at McChord Air Force Base, near Tacoma, Washington. All of this has since been changed and restructured, but in September 2001 the three NORAD components were under the direct command and control of First Air Force, which was also at Tyndall. That meant NEADS, SEADS, and WADS did not speak directly to NORAD. They spoke to First Air Force, and it was First Air Force that spoke to the Cheyenne Mountain.” Acronyms continue throughout the tale.
Mr Robinson has confusing sentences, such as, “The death toll was seventy civilians, fifty-five military personnel, and everyone on the plane. Because their offices were right there, the Army took the biggest losses, at eighty-five.”
Furthermore, he gives conflicting accounts of the military’s role in hijackings of the military during hijackings. In his first mention, he notes, “Besides the fact that a hijacking is a rare event, again, first and foremost, it is a criminal event. It’s a law enforcement matter. But it is also considered a military or air defense matter because it’s a violation of air sovereignty.” A chapter or two later, Robinson states, “A military response to an aircraft hijacking is out of the ordinary because hijackings are a criminal act and the military is not in the business of law enforcement.”
To add to the problems, Mr Robinson writes lazily. “She got commissioned out of McGee Tyson AFB in Tennessee”
OR, “In the seat next to him sat thirty-nine-year-old First Officer David Charlebois, who had been born French in Morocco and lived in Washington, DC, but was not known to be married or to have children,” OR, “He didn’t know it then, but the final total would be 239 flights diverted to seventeen Canadian airports with an estimated thirty-three thousand displaced and sometimes very unhappy passengers.”
The mind reels.
I must also point out other hangnails. He says of the AF1 pilot, “But most of [the telecom devices don’t] work as it was designed to below three hundred to four hundred feet. Which is where the superior piloting of the man in the left seat came into play.” I would hope that pilots MUST get well beyond 400 feet to show their true prowess.
Two further sticklers involve women. He notes that the wife of one captain died 16 years after him; a quick Google search shows she died in 2012. Then there’s the story of the unusual passengers on UA23. The flight attendant “informed [the pilot] that there were four weird young Arab guys sitting in first class.” This is not a direct quote, but at best a paraphrase. Are the sentiments hers or the author’s? I think the author could have chosen a less demeaning term, as four young men of Arab descent acting oddly.
I encourage you to skip this book. For the best read, the clearest read, of 9/11, get yourself a copy of Dwyer’s 102 Minutes. It is not a comprehensive look at the day, but no one has ever written a better story about 9/11.
September 6, 2026
This book is a disaster both on the facts and in its delivery and organization. It is completely misleading to use “untold” in the subtitle. Having read numerous accounts of 9/11 over the years, the bulk of this book consists of regurgitated information, only more poorly organized and, at times, embellished by the author. It is essentially a reformatted, less coherent version of The Only Plane in the Sky. The only genuinely different perspective Robinson adds is perhaps more material from Canada.
As for the organization—why even bother with chapters? It feels like Robinson took 40 different narratives, divided them into four parts, and hit shuffle. There is little continuity to the timeline, and he circles back to certain narratives at random. That is more than an organizational problem; it can mislead the reader by making events appear to be happening simultaneously when they were not. In the last 50 pages of the book, he is still recounting how some people first learned about the attacks.
One example is the story of a woman aboard a 777 diverted to Gander. Robinson drags out the mystery surrounding her for many pages before finally revealing that she worked in U.S. intelligence and somehow made her way back to the United States on her own. There is no meaningful context or explanation, just the pilots noting that they returned with one fewer passenger.
For someone who writes that he “cannot overstate that the internet is not a reliable source” and that it “must never be confused as a proper tool of serious journalism,” a few quick Google searches would have done Robinson well.
For example, accounts from the loved ones of Peter, Sue, and Christine Hanson and Brian Sweeney are mixed into the chapter on Flight 93. They were passengers aboard United 175. The chapter is unmistakably about United 93—it opens with “United 93” and proceeds through numerous calls made by Flight 93 passengers. Yet the accounts involving the Hansons and Sweeney are sandwiched between calls made by Jeremy Glick and Todd Beamer.
Page 134 presents a more substantive problem. A reader could easily come away believing that Cofer Black briefed the president with information that could have prevented 9/11, only for Condoleezza Rice’s competing views to prevail. That is an enormous oversimplification. Robinson positions Cofer Black and George Tenet as the frustrated prophets of the story while failing to grapple with the critical information the CIA itself possessed about Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi before the attacks. Robinson reduces what was arguably the most historically significant event in modern American history into neat “hero” narratives. It is lazy and misleading.
Another example comes on page 144, where Robinson states that an order to shoot down a plane “could not legally come from Cheney.” The legal and constitutional questions surrounding the vice president’s authority that morning are considerably more complicated than that categorical statement suggests. Robinson himself seems to recognize the uncertainty surrounding the legal framework, as only pages later he acknowledges that some of the relevant directives and decisions were formalized retroactively.
Finally, Robinson does not cite a single source. He discusses his sourcing only vaguely in the afterword, where he thanks certain people and condemns journalists for relying on the internet. If you are going to claim that some of your subjects have never spoken publicly before, identify which accounts are actually new. He also references what he describes as, “from what [he] can tell,” still-classified documents. Having read extensively through the publicly available and declassified material on 9/11, I found nothing here that justified describing this story as “untold.”
This book is not a reflection of serious journalism and should not be treated as a reliable account of what happened on 9/11. I hope no one picks it up expecting to actually understand the events of that day. It pains me to say it, but the 9/11 Commission Report is a better source.
As for the organization—why even bother with chapters? It feels like Robinson took 40 different narratives, divided them into four parts, and hit shuffle. There is little continuity to the timeline, and he circles back to certain narratives at random. That is more than an organizational problem; it can mislead the reader by making events appear to be happening simultaneously when they were not. In the last 50 pages of the book, he is still recounting how some people first learned about the attacks.
One example is the story of a woman aboard a 777 diverted to Gander. Robinson drags out the mystery surrounding her for many pages before finally revealing that she worked in U.S. intelligence and somehow made her way back to the United States on her own. There is no meaningful context or explanation, just the pilots noting that they returned with one fewer passenger.
For someone who writes that he “cannot overstate that the internet is not a reliable source” and that it “must never be confused as a proper tool of serious journalism,” a few quick Google searches would have done Robinson well.
For example, accounts from the loved ones of Peter, Sue, and Christine Hanson and Brian Sweeney are mixed into the chapter on Flight 93. They were passengers aboard United 175. The chapter is unmistakably about United 93—it opens with “United 93” and proceeds through numerous calls made by Flight 93 passengers. Yet the accounts involving the Hansons and Sweeney are sandwiched between calls made by Jeremy Glick and Todd Beamer.
Page 134 presents a more substantive problem. A reader could easily come away believing that Cofer Black briefed the president with information that could have prevented 9/11, only for Condoleezza Rice’s competing views to prevail. That is an enormous oversimplification. Robinson positions Cofer Black and George Tenet as the frustrated prophets of the story while failing to grapple with the critical information the CIA itself possessed about Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi before the attacks. Robinson reduces what was arguably the most historically significant event in modern American history into neat “hero” narratives. It is lazy and misleading.
Another example comes on page 144, where Robinson states that an order to shoot down a plane “could not legally come from Cheney.” The legal and constitutional questions surrounding the vice president’s authority that morning are considerably more complicated than that categorical statement suggests. Robinson himself seems to recognize the uncertainty surrounding the legal framework, as only pages later he acknowledges that some of the relevant directives and decisions were formalized retroactively.
Finally, Robinson does not cite a single source. He discusses his sourcing only vaguely in the afterword, where he thanks certain people and condemns journalists for relying on the internet. If you are going to claim that some of your subjects have never spoken publicly before, identify which accounts are actually new. He also references what he describes as, “from what [he] can tell,” still-classified documents. Having read extensively through the publicly available and declassified material on 9/11, I found nothing here that justified describing this story as “untold.”
This book is not a reflection of serious journalism and should not be treated as a reliable account of what happened on 9/11. I hope no one picks it up expecting to actually understand the events of that day. It pains me to say it, but the 9/11 Commission Report is a better source.
September 5, 2026
An epic tale of how politicians and aviators handled September 11, 2001
I highly recommend this book to get inside the minds of not just the Canadian and American politicians who handled 9/11, but also the pilots fighting to restore air sovereignty that day. A history I highly recommend.
One last thing... Thank you Canada for what you did on 9/11. This book profiles also what happened in Gander, one of the cities that had to take on stranded planes.
I highly recommend this book to get inside the minds of not just the Canadian and American politicians who handled 9/11, but also the pilots fighting to restore air sovereignty that day. A history I highly recommend.
One last thing... Thank you Canada for what you did on 9/11. This book profiles also what happened in Gander, one of the cities that had to take on stranded planes.
July 28, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader copy.
Ash and Honor examines the events of 9/11 from a political perspective, focusing on the critical decisions that had to be made as the attacks unfolded. While many books about September 11 center on the terrorists, the planes, or the heroic first responders, this book explores the leadership and coordination behind the scenes during one of the darkest days in American history.
The book highlights the roles of key figures, including former President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, while also recognizing the contributions of air traffic controllers, military personnel, and members of the Canadian government. Together, these perspectives provide a broader understanding of the immense challenges faced as officials worked to respond to an unprecedented crisis.
Overall, I thought this was a well-researched and compelling piece of journalism. It offers a fascinating and often-overlooked perspective on 9/11, shedding light on the difficult decisions made behind the scenes. I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about the events of September 11 and the political and logistical response that followed.
September 2, 2026
I thought that Ash and Honor was a new and interesting perspective on the events from 9/11. I think it did a good job of utilizing moments and events from that day that were already pretty well known with additional behind the scenes details. Because this leans really heavily on military and political elements from that day there is a lot of technical wording phrases that can bog down reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 2, 2026
I assume we will get a hearty barrage of 9/11 books prior to the 25th anniversary, but in my opinion, this is one worth reading. Some of the information and anecdotes are well-tread and have been included in books before, however, I was surprised that there were some new (to me) stories. History should be told and retold, and this book does it well. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley
September 27, 2026
I really wanted to like Ash and Honor, especially because the subject matter is so significant, but unfortunately, the book didn’t quite work for me.
The biggest issue was the number of different storylines and perspectives. There were so many shifts in perspective that the book often felt disjointed and difficult to follow. At times, it felt like the reader was experiencing literary whiplash as the narrative jumped from one person and situation to another.
I also struggled with the idea that this was an “untold” story of 9/11. While there were certainly individual experiences and details that were new to me, I didn't feel that the book ultimately presented a cohesive or particularly new perspective on the events.
I think the book would have been much stronger if Robinson had chosen one perspective or a much smaller number of stories and really developed them. By trying to tell so many different stories, I felt that the book sacrificed depth and clarity. I finished it feeling like I had been introduced to a lot of people and experiences, but hadn't really had the opportunity to learn enough about any of them.
There is undoubtedly an important story here, but for me, the execution made it difficult to fully connect with or appreciate it.
The biggest issue was the number of different storylines and perspectives. There were so many shifts in perspective that the book often felt disjointed and difficult to follow. At times, it felt like the reader was experiencing literary whiplash as the narrative jumped from one person and situation to another.
I also struggled with the idea that this was an “untold” story of 9/11. While there were certainly individual experiences and details that were new to me, I didn't feel that the book ultimately presented a cohesive or particularly new perspective on the events.
I think the book would have been much stronger if Robinson had chosen one perspective or a much smaller number of stories and really developed them. By trying to tell so many different stories, I felt that the book sacrificed depth and clarity. I finished it feeling like I had been introduced to a lot of people and experiences, but hadn't really had the opportunity to learn enough about any of them.
There is undoubtedly an important story here, but for me, the execution made it difficult to fully connect with or appreciate it.
September 10, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader copy of Ash and Honor: The Untold 368 Minutes of 9/11 in exchange for my honest review.
Reading this book so close to the 25th anniversary of 9/11 coupled with 2 trips to NY City this year, really hit home about things that happened that awful day that most people know nothing about. This book will most definitely stay with me.
Reading this book so close to the 25th anniversary of 9/11 coupled with 2 trips to NY City this year, really hit home about things that happened that awful day that most people know nothing about. This book will most definitely stay with me.
September 13, 2026
I have hesitated to read too much about 9/11 since I still have a visceral reaction 25 years later to the events that changed our world completely, but this year felt different. I had learned some new things this year, and more at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/9-... which contains a vast array of first person accounts sorted in many different ways to make them accessible, and definitely stories I had not heard.
This book tackles the behind the scenes of some of the political, military and logistical scenarios but also addresses Canada's role as it welcomed so many planes that could have been hijacked and then cared for the people with heart, what exactly the high level government people were doing, and the military response. It also followed a man hurt in the WTC and his experience through the lens of a nurse, and this unit was where a friend of mine worked at the time, so that felt beautiful and sad and too close. It is written well, with a quick pace, like a thriller, and easy to digest without too much commentary or opinion, although there is some.
I can't believe it has been 25 years, but then again, I can, with all the changes in me and the world. I think it was so traumatic when the pandemic hit that we initially seemed to follow the same thread of unity, but then quickly were buried in discord and misinformation. It broke my heart all over.
I lived on the Upper East Side of Manhattan from 1996 to 1998 and the time there changed me forever and led me to my beautiful life, so I am always grateful. 2 WTC had a half-price, matinee Broadway show ticket booth and I went there occasionally with guests in town, so I have stared up at the towers in wonder more times in my life, so it is hard to believe they are gone.
from the Empire State Building:
from the Ellis Island Ferry:
palm trees in the atrium of 2WTC:
sunrise from home:
This book tackles the behind the scenes of some of the political, military and logistical scenarios but also addresses Canada's role as it welcomed so many planes that could have been hijacked and then cared for the people with heart, what exactly the high level government people were doing, and the military response. It also followed a man hurt in the WTC and his experience through the lens of a nurse, and this unit was where a friend of mine worked at the time, so that felt beautiful and sad and too close. It is written well, with a quick pace, like a thriller, and easy to digest without too much commentary or opinion, although there is some.
I can't believe it has been 25 years, but then again, I can, with all the changes in me and the world. I think it was so traumatic when the pandemic hit that we initially seemed to follow the same thread of unity, but then quickly were buried in discord and misinformation. It broke my heart all over.
I lived on the Upper East Side of Manhattan from 1996 to 1998 and the time there changed me forever and led me to my beautiful life, so I am always grateful. 2 WTC had a half-price, matinee Broadway show ticket booth and I went there occasionally with guests in town, so I have stared up at the towers in wonder more times in my life, so it is hard to believe they are gone.
from the Empire State Building:
from the Ellis Island Ferry:
palm trees in the atrium of 2WTC:
sunrise from home:
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
For the 25th anniversary of 9/11, this powerful and eye‑opening account of the first 385 minutes after the attacks sheds new light on what unfolded during those life‑altering hours. This book isn’t about the attack itself, it’s about the decisions made afterward. You won’t find anything about the people who caused the destruction; instead, you’ll follow the choices, confusion, and events that shaped the immediate response. Most of us who lived through that day will never forget where we were, and this book takes you inside the lives of the people who had to act quickly, often with incomplete or incorrect information, and sometimes without the authority they needed.
The narrative also follows other incidents happening at the same time, not directly related to the attacks, but still impacting critical moments in the hours and days that followed. It offers a closer look at how our Canadian neighbors responded, the challenges they faced, and the ways they stepped up to help. The spread of misinformation, the urgency of decision‑making, and the sheer number of moving parts are all laid out clearly.
This isn’t a light read, but it provides tremendous insight into everything happening simultaneously when the country was first attacked. It focuses on the response and the aftermath, the experiences of people on planes, someone inside the Trade Center, and even excerpts from some of the last phone calls made that day. You’ll also follow where President Bush was during those first hours and the decisions his advisors were forced to make. I especially appreciated learning how everyday Canadians welcomed stranded travelers with pride and compassion and how the Canadian government stepped up to help us without hesitation.
This book is an amazing tribute for the 25th anniversary. It highlights the people making decisions, the ones who were unexpectedly affected, and those on other planes who suddenly found themselves part of history. I loved the stories of regular people helping others , parts of the day most of us never knew about. It’s a reflective, thoughtful look at what happened behind the scenes. There are many points made, some positive, and some areas we needed to make some adjustments to better prepare for unexpected disasters, and it becomes clear how much work was done by people whose names we’ve never heard. Canada’s cooperation and generosity were extraordinary, and they probably never received the thanks they deserved. This is a fast‑paced read that I highly recommend. The writing moves quickly, jumping from scene to scene as events unfold. I appreciated the inclusion of Diane Kirschke, Nick Marson, Rabbi Leivi, and Bonnie Harris, their stories were meaningful additions that show how many lives were affected. These stories highlighted some of the positive things and altruistic acts regular citizens did for others. It really shed light on what happened to the president and those around him, the airlines and FAA and other individuals who were responsible for keeping our country safe and strong.
This was a great read. Thank you to Net Galley, St Martins Press and the author for this ARC to read and review. This review reflects my own opinions of this book.
The narrative also follows other incidents happening at the same time, not directly related to the attacks, but still impacting critical moments in the hours and days that followed. It offers a closer look at how our Canadian neighbors responded, the challenges they faced, and the ways they stepped up to help. The spread of misinformation, the urgency of decision‑making, and the sheer number of moving parts are all laid out clearly.
This isn’t a light read, but it provides tremendous insight into everything happening simultaneously when the country was first attacked. It focuses on the response and the aftermath, the experiences of people on planes, someone inside the Trade Center, and even excerpts from some of the last phone calls made that day. You’ll also follow where President Bush was during those first hours and the decisions his advisors were forced to make. I especially appreciated learning how everyday Canadians welcomed stranded travelers with pride and compassion and how the Canadian government stepped up to help us without hesitation.
This book is an amazing tribute for the 25th anniversary. It highlights the people making decisions, the ones who were unexpectedly affected, and those on other planes who suddenly found themselves part of history. I loved the stories of regular people helping others , parts of the day most of us never knew about. It’s a reflective, thoughtful look at what happened behind the scenes. There are many points made, some positive, and some areas we needed to make some adjustments to better prepare for unexpected disasters, and it becomes clear how much work was done by people whose names we’ve never heard. Canada’s cooperation and generosity were extraordinary, and they probably never received the thanks they deserved. This is a fast‑paced read that I highly recommend. The writing moves quickly, jumping from scene to scene as events unfold. I appreciated the inclusion of Diane Kirschke, Nick Marson, Rabbi Leivi, and Bonnie Harris, their stories were meaningful additions that show how many lives were affected. These stories highlighted some of the positive things and altruistic acts regular citizens did for others. It really shed light on what happened to the president and those around him, the airlines and FAA and other individuals who were responsible for keeping our country safe and strong.
This was a great read. Thank you to Net Galley, St Martins Press and the author for this ARC to read and review. This review reflects my own opinions of this book.
September 23, 2026
Thank you so much to the publisher for a copy of this book via NetGalley!
You always hear about those times when you will always remember where you were or what you were doing when something happens and September 11, 2001 is one of those times.
I was only in the second grade but I remember vividly being in class and one of the other teachers knocking on the classroom door and the way that the whole atmosphere of that classroom changed. It went from a normal day to one of tension and panic and fear. I didn’t know until years later the gravity of what had happened that day but I will never forget knowing that something very bad had happened. The terrorist attack that day changed the United States forever.
Now, 25 years later, we must never forget. This book wasn’t at all what I was expecting but it was new information that I learned about 9/11. I thought the author did a great job at presenting the information from an aviation and military perspective. I’ve watched many documentaries about 9/11 but I hadn’t read any books about it. I’m glad that I picked this one up and was provided with another perspective of one of the worst days in America’s history.
I feel as if I should recommend this book to everyone that remember and also to those that weren’t yet born or were too young to remember. This book was very hard to read and extremely emotional but I will be adding it to my nonfiction book recommendations.
You always hear about those times when you will always remember where you were or what you were doing when something happens and September 11, 2001 is one of those times.
I was only in the second grade but I remember vividly being in class and one of the other teachers knocking on the classroom door and the way that the whole atmosphere of that classroom changed. It went from a normal day to one of tension and panic and fear. I didn’t know until years later the gravity of what had happened that day but I will never forget knowing that something very bad had happened. The terrorist attack that day changed the United States forever.
Now, 25 years later, we must never forget. This book wasn’t at all what I was expecting but it was new information that I learned about 9/11. I thought the author did a great job at presenting the information from an aviation and military perspective. I’ve watched many documentaries about 9/11 but I hadn’t read any books about it. I’m glad that I picked this one up and was provided with another perspective of one of the worst days in America’s history.
I feel as if I should recommend this book to everyone that remember and also to those that weren’t yet born or were too young to remember. This book was very hard to read and extremely emotional but I will be adding it to my nonfiction book recommendations.
September 8, 2026
This was a in depth look at the morning of 9/11, from stories and timelines that are well known, to smaller anecdotes about the tragic events. Stories of survivors, of decision makers and of the immediate grounding of planes across American airspace are all gathered together for the 25th anniversary.
This was a good recap with some new information. I feel like this tragedy has been incredibly well documented and a lot of the timeline is so well known, but I always love getting another viewpoint and stories from the day. The mentions of logistics of diverting planes in Alaska and Whitehorse was new to me, but Gander wasn’t. I did love hearing stories that made it into the musical Come From Away.
This book did have a more international/aerospace focus rather than boots on the ground, human stories of New York. It was a good way to showcase how out of the blue, unexpected and unprepared people in power were, but maybe left out a little of the human tragedy in New York. I don’t mean to sound like this should have had more trauma, but it did seem like the focus was on the wider big picture of the morning, rather than the immediate focus of the towers in New York.
Overall, a worthwhile read for an important anniversary.
This was a good recap with some new information. I feel like this tragedy has been incredibly well documented and a lot of the timeline is so well known, but I always love getting another viewpoint and stories from the day. The mentions of logistics of diverting planes in Alaska and Whitehorse was new to me, but Gander wasn’t. I did love hearing stories that made it into the musical Come From Away.
This book did have a more international/aerospace focus rather than boots on the ground, human stories of New York. It was a good way to showcase how out of the blue, unexpected and unprepared people in power were, but maybe left out a little of the human tragedy in New York. I don’t mean to sound like this should have had more trauma, but it did seem like the focus was on the wider big picture of the morning, rather than the immediate focus of the towers in New York.
Overall, a worthwhile read for an important anniversary.
September 8, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this fascinating book by Jeffrey Robinson. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!
We all know the story of 9/11, and as we reach the 25th anniversary of that horrible day, this book is a must read because, trust me, you don't know these stories about that day. I don't think I've ever read a book written in this style - without affixing time stamps, we get an almost minute-by-minute peek into the behind-the-scenes events of that day from a multitude of sources in an almost stream of consciousness style. This book is not about survivor or victim stories (although there is one of those stories) and it doesn't go into excruciating detail about the terrorist act itself. It delves into the people behind making those crucial tactical decisions in so many areas when they have little to no information or time to plan, think, or coordinate. You'll learn details about how the government and other countries responded in the first 6 hours of this crisis. It's always easy to play Monday morning quarterback and second guess decisions and actions, but this book puts you in the mindset of the chaos. Fascinating read to mark this anniversary.
We all know the story of 9/11, and as we reach the 25th anniversary of that horrible day, this book is a must read because, trust me, you don't know these stories about that day. I don't think I've ever read a book written in this style - without affixing time stamps, we get an almost minute-by-minute peek into the behind-the-scenes events of that day from a multitude of sources in an almost stream of consciousness style. This book is not about survivor or victim stories (although there is one of those stories) and it doesn't go into excruciating detail about the terrorist act itself. It delves into the people behind making those crucial tactical decisions in so many areas when they have little to no information or time to plan, think, or coordinate. You'll learn details about how the government and other countries responded in the first 6 hours of this crisis. It's always easy to play Monday morning quarterback and second guess decisions and actions, but this book puts you in the mindset of the chaos. Fascinating read to mark this anniversary.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I try to read most everything that is written about 9/11 and a lot of what is written centers around the many victims and the courageous first responders and rightly so.
What makes this book different is that it goes into great detail about some of the lesser known details behind the scenes of that day. Over 100 people were interviewed to help piece together the intricate events and decisions that were made when, in many cases, there was very little to go on.
How many planes were possibly hijacked? Was Camp David hit? Was Canada aware of one of the hijackers beforehand? Do we have fighter jets scrambled? Where is the President? How close did we come to shooting down Flight 93 over Shanksville PA? Who is in charge? What did we know and when did we know it?
The extensive research that went into this book is admirable and I learned quite a few things about that day that I did not know.
One thing to be aware of going in is that there are a LOT of people mentioned in this book and significant detail about types of aircraft and what they do.
What makes this book different is that it goes into great detail about some of the lesser known details behind the scenes of that day. Over 100 people were interviewed to help piece together the intricate events and decisions that were made when, in many cases, there was very little to go on.
How many planes were possibly hijacked? Was Camp David hit? Was Canada aware of one of the hijackers beforehand? Do we have fighter jets scrambled? Where is the President? How close did we come to shooting down Flight 93 over Shanksville PA? Who is in charge? What did we know and when did we know it?
The extensive research that went into this book is admirable and I learned quite a few things about that day that I did not know.
One thing to be aware of going in is that there are a LOT of people mentioned in this book and significant detail about types of aircraft and what they do.
September 25, 2026
Story of the immediate military response to 9/11. The chaos and how military leaders worked to the edge of their authority and a little beyond to react.
Why I started this book: Purchased it because of the anniversary but was very concerned about the writing style and readability when I read another review.
Why I finished it: This should not be your first 9/11 book. This is a book for those that have read The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 and The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland and have a keen interest in military responses and some west coast reactions to transpacific flights. Not as bad as I feared but I meet all of the requirements above.
Why I started this book: Purchased it because of the anniversary but was very concerned about the writing style and readability when I read another review.
Why I finished it: This should not be your first 9/11 book. This is a book for those that have read The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 and The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland and have a keen interest in military responses and some west coast reactions to transpacific flights. Not as bad as I feared but I meet all of the requirements above.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I have heard and read so many things about 9/11, but always from the point of view of the first responders and the victims, I thought this was a great idea for a book.
This is a compelling read, but be ready to really focus because there are A LOT of people in this story, and all of them have alphabet crudentials and occupy positions in alphabet departments such as Norad, etc.
This book is very well researched and the fact that the author can take all this info and turn it into a compelling read is admirable.
I found myself quite fascinated with all the "misunderstandings," and it's a miracle that more innocent victims, sitting on these planes, were not targeted.
Being Canadian, I am upset that Bush and his people never officially thanked us, but I do get it....there was a lot going on.
This is a compelling read, but be ready to really focus because there are A LOT of people in this story, and all of them have alphabet crudentials and occupy positions in alphabet departments such as Norad, etc.
This book is very well researched and the fact that the author can take all this info and turn it into a compelling read is admirable.
I found myself quite fascinated with all the "misunderstandings," and it's a miracle that more innocent victims, sitting on these planes, were not targeted.
Being Canadian, I am upset that Bush and his people never officially thanked us, but I do get it....there was a lot going on.
September 14, 2026
I was impressed by Jeffrey Robinson’s Ash and Honor. The book offers fresh perspectives on familiar events while providing essential clarity on details I hadn't fully understood before.
Robinson’s writing is strong, engaging, and held my attention from start to finish. The behind-the-scenes anecdotes are fascinating and helped clear up several rumors I remember hearing on 24-hour news networks during the live coverage on September 11. I especially appreciated the clear explanation behind the delayed return of President Bush to Washington, D.C. As a Canadian, it was also wonderful to read the accounts from the perspective of our government during the crisis.
This is an insightful, well-researched read that I highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free advanced reader copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Robinson’s writing is strong, engaging, and held my attention from start to finish. The behind-the-scenes anecdotes are fascinating and helped clear up several rumors I remember hearing on 24-hour news networks during the live coverage on September 11. I especially appreciated the clear explanation behind the delayed return of President Bush to Washington, D.C. As a Canadian, it was also wonderful to read the accounts from the perspective of our government during the crisis.
This is an insightful, well-researched read that I highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free advanced reader copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 28, 2026
Ash and Honor: The Untold 368 Minutes of 9/11 is a gripping and deeply researched account of one of the most consequential days in American history. Jeffrey Robinson reconstructs 368 critical minutes through the experiences of people making decisions, responding to unfolding events, and facing extraordinary circumstances in real time. Drawing from extensive interviews, official records, oral histories, and firsthand accounts, Robinson reveals remarkable details about what was happening on the ground, in the air, and behind the scenes. The confusion, urgency, courage, and humanity of September 11 emerge through a compelling narrative filled with individual stories and pivotal moments. Powerful, illuminating, and difficult to put down, Ash and Honor is an unforgettable account of a day that changed America forever.
September 19, 2026
I don’t know why this book was published other than to cash in on 9/11. A small volume, it reads like an expanded magazine piece. A lengthy exposition introduces dozens of player representing an eyecrossing collection of alphabet soup agencies. It needed a list and glossary.
The author fingerwags at Condolezza Rice over not heeding the casandras in the intelligence community.
Most newsworthy are his contention that we never thanked Canada, and the fact that Cheney and Rumsfeld authorized shooting down of planes. (I had read that elsewhere and hold the opinion that that may have happened, my opinion).
This is a minor volume in the history of 9/11.
2 jimmys out of 5
The author fingerwags at Condolezza Rice over not heeding the casandras in the intelligence community.
Most newsworthy are his contention that we never thanked Canada, and the fact that Cheney and Rumsfeld authorized shooting down of planes. (I had read that elsewhere and hold the opinion that that may have happened, my opinion).
This is a minor volume in the history of 9/11.
2 jimmys out of 5
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a very detailed and informative book that detailed everything that happened on 9/11 from the military and aviation side of things. I’ve read every book on this topic and still found new information and a new perspective in this book. The eye witness accounts were stunning and I was still able to follow and comprehend even the most technical terminology. It’s a tribute on this 25th anniversary to everything that happened behind the scenes that many of us never even knew about. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was fantastic and filled with many, many things I didn’t know. Of course, I know exactly where I was when it happened, but didn’t understand what was happening behind the scenes. It’s filled with so many prospectives, so many behind the scenes actions and clearly illustrates how so many actions could have gone so wrong. Above all, it was human and pulled in key perspectives from both military and non military people. So thankful to read this and reflect on so many heroes among us. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
September 20, 2026
What keeps my review from a five-star rating is a continual issue where the author likes to over-emphasize all kinds of military planes, vehicles, and positions. I don't mind the background on the people we're reading about, but when you have a half-page or longer of nothing but "They flew this type of plane, and then they flew this type of plane," I am going to check out. I skimmed quite a few paragraphs like that. Aside from that hang up, I did not realize just how unprepared our country was that day, and I did not realize how close we came to multiple other tragedies due to that failing.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Fascinating, quick look at the military, aviation, and national security side of 9/11. Had no idea there was a probable 5th plane on the hijack list, as it was not reported in any of the other 8 million books I have read on 9/11, so now I have something new to read up on. Overall, a fascinating read.
September 13, 2026
Very interesting book about 9/11. It gives a lot of back story information that I did not know. It gives perspectives from all the planes and the people involved. It covers President Bush and the scrambling to protect him. It also talks about the military jets that were sent to protect the skies. Sad but interesting and I learned a lot of things I didn't know.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A powerful well-researched account, timed for the 25th anniversary of 9/11, of never-before-told military and aviation stories from the fateful day when the U.S. was attacked. An absorbing, important book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A slightly different perspective on the few hours after the attacks on September 11. In this book, we learn of the military, national security, and airline response to the attacks. This was a really interesting, relatively short account.
September 13, 2026
Just in time for the twenty-fifth anniversary. This book focuses on the response of the aviation industry, military, and national security in the 368 minutes after the first plane struck the World Trade Center.
October 3, 2026
DNF. Very poorly organized and written. Did not have anything new. Seems like a transparent cash grab for the 25th anniversary.
Also seems like almost all of the good reviews of this book came from folks who got ARCs, which I always find incredibly suspicious.
Also seems like almost all of the good reviews of this book came from folks who got ARCs, which I always find incredibly suspicious.
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